NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 18, 2026Miami-Dade
Tropical Storm Lala causes power outages and one death in Hawaii
Tropical Storm Lala caused widespread power outages for over 104,000 customers and isolated rural communities in Hawaii due to severe flooding and debris. One 90-year-old woman was confirmed dead in Naalehu, and state officials are currently coordinating cleanup efforts and federal aid requests.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
Residents in the Big Island's southern districts face ongoing isolation, power loss, and infrastructure damage, while state and federal officials work to secure emergency funding for recovery.
Key Facts
- One 90-year-old woman was found dead in Naalehu following the storm.
- Approximately 104,000 Hawaiian Electric customers lost power.
- The 911 emergency system on the Big Island was temporarily disabled due to communication failures.
- Laupahoehoe recorded 1.1 meters (43.54 inches) of rainfall.
- Wind gusts reached 225 km/h (140 mph) at the summit of Mauna Kea.
- Public schools statewide and county offices on the Big Island were closed on Monday.
- Big Island county schools and offices remain closed on Tuesday.
- Approximately 100 homes were destroyed or swept away on the Big Island.
- Two cemeteries in Naalehu were damaged by flooding.
- The storm is expected to move west and regain hurricane strength away from land by Wednesday.
Who's Mentioned
personJeanné Kapela“State Representative for the Kau district”personJosh Green“Governor of Hawaii”personSean Duffy“Secretary of Transportation”locationNaalehu“Area affected by storm and site of fatality”personBrian Schatz“U.S. Senator”organizationHawaiian Electric“Utility provider reporting power outages”